A specialist in nonwovens technology, Intissel was founded in 1954 and was one of the first drylaid manufacturers in the world. Intissel’s current factory, based in Northern France, was built in the mid-1980s. Chargeur’s interlinings activities began in the 1970s but the production of fabrics tailored in pure wool—which the company considers the true ancestor of interlinings— began in 1945.

Intissel is the nonwovens business unit of Chargeurs Interlining, a division of the Chargeurs Group, with annual sales in the $250 million range. Chargeurs Interlining supplies a range of geographic markets including Western and Eastern Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa. The majority of Intissel’s sales are in the area of nonwoven fusible interlinings for men’s and women’s clothing. Intissel Technologies, a specific department of Intissel, manufactures and distributes nonwovens for other applications such as industrial, automotive and medical.

The company attributes its success in the garment industry to several factors—experienced personnel, ongoing investment in the latest dry processes and coating technologies, quality systems certification, global presence and high-quality advice, responsiveness and technical back-up for its customers.

“Intissel has made the strategic decision to meet the requirements of the world market with flexible and fast response times, building on ongoing research and development,” explained Intissel managing director Laurent Cogez. “We offer an extraordinarily wide range of products to suit different materials and fabric treatments,”

In terms of equipment, Intissel uses the drylaid process, followed by thermal bonding, chemical bonding and spunlace technology. The company’s capacity is more than 200 million square meters per year on two production sites.

When it comes to new products and technologies, Mr. Cogez said that Intissel has plans for innovation and technology upgrades, particularly in the area of downstream nonwovens processes.

Like its parent company, Intissel also serves the worldwide market. The company’s global strategy is to keep its leadership position in its core business area, which is interlinings. With most of this business now located in Asia, Intissel is focusing its Asian production plants on this range of products. Meanwhile, its European facilities are focusing on growth strategies for industrial products.

In Asia, Intissel is discussing the possibility of a strategic partnership with Xinlong Group, a leading Chinese supplier of technical nonwovens. The agreement would allow Intissel to become an exclusive distributor of all Xinlong industrial nonwovens in Europe.

According to Bernard Vossart, general manager of Chargeurs Interlining, the company has an international network that is extremely powerful and flexible. “It provides essential facilities to efficiently serve the world markets for interlinings and fire retardant/protective garments. Our capacity, which is without international boundaries, generates continual creativity,” he said.

The know-how of Chargeur’s specialized technical teams makes it possible to develop new products that respond quickly to market needs, Mr. Vossart added. “Significant investments in research and development make it possible for our group to maintain a technological advantage that the clothing industry acknowledges.”

July 5, 2011Nikoogroup, reportedly the largest maker of nonwovens in Iran, makes spunlaced and thermal bonded nonwovens through two of its subsidiaries, Abharris and MBNT. Beyond nonwovens, the group has interests in fibers, yarn, spinning and petrochemicals as well as the development of acquisition/distribution layer material through its newest subsidiary, Aknan, which is based in Turkey.

July 18, 2009Established in 1879 as a cotton wool factory in Hof, Germany roll goods producer Sandler AG is now ranked among the leading European producers of nonwovens for hygiene, wipes, furniture, apparel, automotive, filtration and construction applications.

March 17, 2009Nonwovens industry newcomer Anjani Non-wovens, a unit of Anjani Udyog Pvt Ltd, is drawing attention to nonwovens in India with its recent order of a Fleissner spunlace nonwovens line to manufacture cotton pads and wipes.